Improvement in upright piano-forte actions



U. k. CHEW. Upright-Pianoforte, Action.

Patented Sept. 10,1878.

{INITED STATEs PATENT OEEIoE.

CHARLES F. CHEW, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN UPRIGHT PIANO-FORTE ACTIONS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 207,946, datedSeptember 10, 1878; application filed March 29, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. CHEW, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, haveinvented certain Improvements in Upright Piano-Forte Actions, of whichthe following is a specification:

It is the object of my invention to simplify upright piano actions bothin their organization and in their mode of operation. This I accomplishby reducing the number of parts of which such actions are composed, andby so combining the parts as to form a continuous train of mechanism,commencing with the key at one end and terminating with the damperspringat the other end, the organization being such that when the key isdepressed the force exerted by the damper-spring is transmitted throughthe entire train of mechanism to the key, and hence the damper-spring,in addition to its ordinary function of returning the damper to thestring, also acts upon the hammer, and assists in restoring the entiremechanism to its normal position.

One of the features-of my invention consists in arranging the damperupon the inner side of the butt-rail, opposite to the side upon whichthe hammer-butt is centered, as a result of which I am enabled togreatly diminish the vertical dimensions of the action, and thus adaptit for employment in small pianos, which it is desired shall have casesof as little height as possible. I

The accompanying drawing represents a side elevation of an uprightaction embodying my improvement.

The train of mechanism composing my improved action consists of theusual key A, provided with the jack-lever B, to which is centered thejack 1), the jack-lever and jack being shown partly in section for thepurpose of exhibiting the spiral spring I), which, when the key israised, throws the jack forward into position to engage the butt C. Thebutt C is pivoted to the butt-flange c, which is affixed by the screw 0to the lower part of the front side of the butt-rail D.

The jack is connected with the hammer-butt by the flexible saddle E. Iemploy, in combination with the jack and hammer, an inside checkcomposed of a padded head, F, affixed to the end of the stem F, insertedin the jack,

and a padded arm, f, affixed by means of the stem f to the hammer-butt.The padded head F is between the arm f and the hammer-butt, and thusengages the side of the arm f toward the hammer-butt.

My damper G is arranged upon the inner side of the butt-rail D, and iscentered in the damper-flange G secured by the screw G to the top of thebutt-rail D. The damper-head g is pressed against the string by thespring 9, secured to the butt-rail. The butt-rail is transverselyperforated at a point immediately opposite the hammer-butt to admit theloose pin H, one end of which bears upon a pad, 71, upon the side of thedamper-lever, and the other end bears upon a pad, h, affixed to theinner face of the hammer-butt.

When the key is depressed the jack throws the hammer against the string,and as the hammer-butt swings forward it pushes the loose pin H againstthe pad h on the lower portion of the damper, and thus rocks thedamper-head back from the string. hen pressure is removed from the keythe spring 9 rocks the damper in the opposite direction, thus pushingthe pin H against the hammerbutt and throwing back the hammer. In itsbackward movement the hammer-butt pushes down the jack, and thus tendsto raise the key to its normal posit-ion. By this mode of arrangementthe several parts composing the action are brought into such connectionthat a force applied to either end of the train of mechanism istransmitted throughout all the parts of which it is composed, the touchof the key acting in one direction to make the hammer strike the string,and the damper-sprin g acting in the other direction to assist inreturning all the parts to their normal positions.

It is an incidental advantage of my mode of arranging the damper that Iam enabled to use a heavy damper-spring, which increases theeffectiveness of the damper for employ ment on strings under greattension. At the same time I utilize the damper-spring, as I havedescribed, to assist in efiecting the retraction of the parts. It will,of course, be understood that if it be desired to elevate the actionabove the key the jack maybe centered in the end of an arm pivoted to atransverse rail affixed to the frame, and may be operated by means of avertical rod of the desired length extending upward from the inner endof the key.

I claim as my invention in an upright piano action- 4 1. A jack suitablymounted upon a key and provided with the stem F, carrying the paddedhead F and a hammer, the butt of which is provided with thelaterally-projeetin g stem f, carrying the padded arm f, in combinationwith the spring-damper G, arranged to operate substantially asdescribed.

2. The hammenbutt O, centered in a buttfiange affixed to the lowerportion of the front side of the butt-rail, and the pin H, looselycontained in a transverse hole in the butt-rail immediately opposite thehammer-butt, in combination with a damper, G, provided with the spring9, and centered in a damper-flange af fixed to the upper portion of thebutt-rail, and proj eetin g baekwardly therefrom, arranged to operatesubstantially as described.

0. F. CHEW. Witnesses HENRY REDANOTT, Gno. W. WARNER.

